"Christine, my dear, you look terribly tired. maybe you shouldn't stay late tonight," her teacher told her as they all gathered their things to leave for the night.

She shrugged.

"I'm fine, madame. I feel better when I practise."

"Alright, whatever you say. Goodnight girls!"

As always, Christine waited until everyone was far enough not to hear her speak to thin air or return suddenly to take something left behind by accident. When thick silence reigned, she gathered her courage and spoke clearly, making sure her guardian would hear her.

"Angel? Are you here?" She sat at the piano bench.

"Yes, my dear," the baritone voice replied slowly.

"Can we begin then?"

The Voice hesitated. She had never heard her angel, so powerful, strict and ingenious, worried and the thought chilled her to the bone. If a divine entity was worried, how serious could a matter be?

"Christine, listen carefully," he finally commanded.

"As always, maestro. Is something wrong?" Her stomach had turned into a knot.

"Your progress is outstanding and you have surpassed even my expectations. You have made me very proud."

She was unused to praise and she looked down, curling a thread hanging from her shirt in her fingers. It was a very important moment for her, hearing she had made the angel and her Papa proud. Small crystals gleamed at the corners of her eyes and she quickly wiped them with the back of her hand.

"For this, I cannot bare seeing your talent hidden away in a dark university room. You have to shine, Christine, and show the world the genius of your talent."

She knew all that, since he never missed a chance to remind her how her newly acquired talent could not go into obscurity. But his words now hinted at something more than the usual lecture and the way he dared not say it frightened her.

"I have decided, if you would of course agree, that you take part in the auditions the Palais Garnier is holding during your holidays. You can start with a small part, considering the managers would never trust a big role in the hands of an inexperienced and fairly unknown singer, but soon those mortals will realise the muse herself has graced their stage. Then your future will be sealed and you will belong solely to music."

"Maestro, you know that I have already given my soul to our art and when I sing, I offer you all I have to give. But I don't know…"

"There is no but! Answer me, girl; are you willing to go through with the task destiny has laid on your shoulders, or will you prove too small to fulfil your true calling?"

The way he put it did not exactly allow much room for any disagreement and she could not risk losing her beloved teacher, to whom she had told everything, from her innermost thoughts to the silliest of dreams. The angel was right; there was nothing for her on earth now, nothing that the mortal world could offer her. She belonged in the ethers with him and her Papa, her soul was given entirely to music and her purpose was to serve its will.

"I could not deny such an opportunity, my Angel. I know my true calling, you have revealed it to me. I cannot deny my destiny. But please, allow me to finish my studies before I fully pledge myself into the world of art. I would not like leaving unfinished business."

"That is a wise decision and I could never deny such a noble request. You will audition now and any new cast members will begin next season. I believe you will have plenty of time to conclude your more…humble activities."

Everything was coming up roses! She would have enough time to finish with her university, before she moved to Paris and do what she was always meant to. Only a small cloud darkened her bright future.

"Raoul wouldn't like it if I disappeared during the holidays. Or if I left my previous life behind."

"I have told you many times, Christine, that you are free to do whatever you please with that boy, as long as he does not hold you back from progress. If he proves to be a problem, you will move on to someone who can value the nymph he'll have by his side."

She nodded, a lump forming in her throat. She really liked Raoul and he had always been there for her, supporting and encouraging her. But he could never understand the music; he was a realist, recognised that one needed to be successful in a field to make a bright future, without seeing that for her music was oxygen. She could not breathe without it, she did not live outside those three hours in her practise room. No, no one could understand but her angel. He was the only one who truly knew her through and through.

"Now, let us pay no mind to those minor details. We must begin to prepare you at once. Your scales, my darling."

She straightened, cleared her head of unimportant thoughts and concentrated on her voice and the music.

Raoul was watching a soccer game on tv, while eating takeout. Christine had been late again and he had nothing to do with himself, except sit and rot in front of the tv, trying not to worry about his girlfriend's late night outings. Thankfully, Christine had woken up from the trance music had thrown her into and had returned to being a normal human again, without muttering things about her destiny and stuff that worried him. She studied and passed her classes as usual, only now he didn't have to think whether she had developed some mental issues.

"Babe, I'm home!" Her voice came from the door and he stood to hug her.

She placed a sweet kiss on his lips and smiled against his mouth.

"Hm, Chinese?" She broke away and left her bag on the counter.

"Your favourite. Did everything go well?"

"Why wouldn't it?" She opened the packet and fished out a chicken tender. "Raoul, we need to talk."

He could have sworn colour drained from his face at her dangerously serious tone. He rushed to her side and curled his arms around her thin waist.

"I will go to Paris during the holidays. My teacher managed to schedule an audition for me at the Garnier. It will be my opportunity to finally do what I love!"

He scratched his head, not enjoying the idea of Christine leaving her studies to pursue an insure career in music.

"Love...I know how much you want to do this, but it's a really competitive field and you don't have any connections. I don't want you to get disappointed if something goes wrong."

"Well it's not as if I'll leave my studies. I'll finish this year and then, if I make it in the company, any new cast members will start in autumn. Of course I'll keep my literature degree as a backup."

He exhaled in relief at her clairvoyance. Finally, she realised no singer ever became famous simply because they were good. She knew no one but if she wanted to give it a shot and see how it goes, well...she was an adult. He wasn't there to tell her what to do.

"Then we can leave together next week! And you'll stay at my place in Paris!"

She broke their embrace and moved over to tidy her bag. Raoul did not like her sudden silence.

"I don't know, Raoul. I still have classes here, so I'll leave the week before Christmas with the train. And perhaps it would be better if I stayed at a hotel. You know, I'll have to practise and stuff so I'll need to concentrate and your family will need their ears."

He laughed, unsure of the way this affair was going. Why would she not want to stay with him? Yeah, maybe his sisters were a little snob, but they would never make her uncomfortable. And she could have all day to herself to practise.

"But we'll meet once you're there, right?"

"Of course we will! But I'm gonna have to focus on it, so I don't know wether we can meet everyday. But we'll talk a thousand times a day, baby!"

"Yeah...alright. Whatever you think it's best. Try to stay close to the opera, at least."

"Have you seen the prices there? There's no way I can afford a room. I was think somewhere in Belleville and I could always take the metro to the centre. It won't be too hard."

"Christine, don't even talk about it. If you can't afford a place, you know I have no problem-"

"No, don't you even talk about it. Thanks, babe, but I can manage."

"Okay, whatever. Just try not to stay in a sketchy place. You know how Paris can be in some neighbourhoods."

"Of course I know. Don't worry, I'll be fine. I think I still remember Paris a little. But I've missed it so! It's the most beautiful city I've ever seen!"

She picked up her phone and started scrolling through her social media, looking at pictures of the city of light and dreaming of the places she would see those ten days she would stay. Raoul's hand travelled across her back as he leaned his head on her shoulder and looked with her.

"I love you very much, Christine."

He caught her off guard.

"I love you too, Raoul."